By Career Field of Interest:
These categories are very general and by no means exhaustive. Many of these professions could fit into several different categories. However, they are categorized here in a way to make it easier for you, the student, to understand the diverse options to better make your choice.
PUBLIC & SOCIAL SERVICE
City Management/Government
Marcia Glick '80 (Mathematics); M.P.A. - Hamline University
Company/Location: City of Robbinsdale, MN, Minneapolis, MN
Position Title of Alumna & Description: City Manager - Professional management of a City of just under 14,000 abutting Minneapolis. The City Council sets policy, guidelines and goals. The City Manager is responsible for executing the policies and managing day to day operations, with an emphasis on public relations and communications. Direct reports include the Finance Director, Police Chief, City Engineer, Fire Chief and City Planner who are experts in their fields.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, flexible, but over March 19th would be ideal
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The student will have an opportunity to learn about local government operations and a wide range of professional careers. The most interesting thing about this line of work is that there is little predictability outside of a few set meetings.
Consulting
Matthew Johnson '08 (Math/Sociology)
Company/Location: ISSI: Data, Analytics, Strategy, Minneapolis, MN
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Data & Targeting Director - I work as the data and targeting director for two coalitions of progressive nonprofits across Minnesota. I guide and assist nonprofits in the political outreach in the state. Working with both partisan and nonpartisan groups, I help groups do advocacy, political outreach, lobbying, grassroots organizing, political targeting, and campaign strategy. I do political consulting, with a focus on data-driven decisions. I work closely with a wide-range of groups, ranging from ʺpolitical attack dogsʺ and labor unions to neighborhood community centers and environmental organizations.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, March 25-29
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: By spending time in our office, the extern would meet with political workers and leaders in the Twin Cities and learn about their job and work. The extern would learn about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into modern politics, and non-profit roles in politics during the state legislative session. There would also be training courses for the student where they would learn basic campaign strategy and campaign finance laws, as well as partisan and nonpartisan political action. During their time in the office, they would work on data resources, and look at registration numbers across the state. They would become familiar with the Census database, voter registration records, and modeling data as they compile a report about Minnesota.
Eric Johnson '88 (Russian/Math); & M.A., Russian Area Studies – Georgetown (also listed in Science & Technology)
Company/Location: Self-Employed, Shanghai, China
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Consultant - I consult for NGOs (international and domestic) which want help in the field of implementing substantial projects supporting freedom of expression--sometimes local media development, sometimes internet freedom. Sometimes I write proposals, sometimes I help launch and/or run projects, and sometimes I evaluate projects. Most of my work recently has been internet-related: cyberpolicy (local advocacy in support of more, and more-free, internet), cybercircumvention (breaking through firewalls), or cybersecurity (training activists and journalists how to defend against governmental attempts to compromise their safety, confidentiality, or anonymity).
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: Insights into: [1] expatriate life, [2] freelancing / consulting, [3] the global aid industry, and [4] the ʺfreedom defense/promotionʺ field.
Additional Information: My work is virtual--I don't have an office (I work from home or from cafes near my home).
John Wylie '75 (History/Political Science) (also listed in Writing & Publishing)
Company/Location: Oologah Lake Leader/Wylie Communications Inc., Oologah, OK
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Publisher and Editor/President and CEO - We operate two businesses, both with national footprints, from the small town of Oologah, OK. The Oologah Lake Leader is the state's most honored community newspaper, but we do investigative work that picks up on the national work as well. Wylie Communications Inc. is a crisis communications, public relations, political consulting and advertising firm with a national clientele. During the time in question, we will be working primarily on political and public issues for clients that include a high profile District Attorney and a committee working to extend a public infrastructure tax for one of the state's largest counties at a time when even tax extensions are faring very poorly with voters. I also am the public information officer for a regional, taxpayer subsidized ALS ambulance service. Most of what I handle involves public policy and medical financing issues rather than emergency calls. The problems we face at OTEMS provide a microcosm of the problems involved in health care reform and deficit/cost reduction vs. quality of patient care at the state and federal level.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: Since my wife and I own the newspaper and WCI and will be offering the student a home experience, he or she will be able to observe and participate in almost every aspect of the community news, investigative reporting and online information fields, as well as all aspects of communications and political strategy development at WCI. OTEMS is dealing with financial issues, trying to deal with reduced income without harming patient care or response times, and also is developing its brand (the service is young by ambulance standards, less than a decade old) and working on patron membership programs to increase revenues.
Additional Information: A student would have complete access to all our work, and might have an opportunity to do research on one or more projects while here. An extern several years ago was interested in print journalism and wanted to have one or more published stories. She did very well and did some work for us from her home in China post-externship. She now works for a major newspaper in China after earning her master's degree in journalism at the University of Missouri.
Environmental Advocacy
Carolyn Wright '10 (Spanish)
Company/Location: Cumberland River Compact, Nashville, TN
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Project Coordinator - The Cumberland River Compact is an environmental non-profit that works to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River watershed. I coordinate volunteer projects that focus on urban stormwater management (i.e., rain gardens, rain barrels, riparian buffers). I also do the marketing for the non-profit, including compose the internet newsletter, maintain the website, and social media outreach. I work about half of the time in the field and half in the office. Every day is different!
Length of Stay & Dates Available: Flexible, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: Gain an understanding of the way small non-profits function and become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of working in the non-profit sector. The extern will also experience working in a position that offers something new each day and requires an interdisciplinary approach.
Cristy Costello '86 (Sociology)
Company/Location: Sierra Club, Nokomis, FL
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Regional Organizing Representative - I have been a Regional Organizing Representative for the Sierra Club since May 2007. In my current position I coordinate the Water Sentinels – Protecting Florida's Waters Campaign to prevent harmful algal blooms in both coastal and inland waters by eliminating point and non-point sources of nutrient pollution; a sub-campaign of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Resilient Habitat Campaign. During my five plus years with the Campaign I have mobilized concerned citizens, local governments, civic organizations, homeowner associations, waterfront businesses, religious institutions and partner environmental organizations around the following issues: Local urban fertilizer management administrative policies and ordinances; State-level urban fertilizer management administrative policies; Local control versus state preemption of urban fertilizer regulation; Numeric nutrient criteria for Florida's fresh and estuarine waters; and Water quality monitoring. I am also on the Citizens Advisory Council of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: By spending time with a conservation organizer during the Florida legislative session the extern will have the opportunity to watch and even be actively engaged in lobbying, grassroots and grasstops mobilization, and online organizing. Issues related to water quality in Florida are similar to water quality issues around the country and world; nutrient pollution is this nation's greatest threat to quality water resources.
Government/State Legislature
Chris Hall '07 (Political Science)
Company/Location: Iowa State Legislature, Des Moines, IA
Position Title of Alumna & Description: State Representative - I serve as a part-time state legislator in the Iowa Capitol from January through the end of April. Because of this, my official residence is Sioux City, Iowa, though it appears that these externships would be offered during the legislative session while I am in Des Moines. My work consists of a variety of public committee meetings, policy discussions, informational presentations related to state interests, budget analysis, legislative debate, and closed door discussions of politics. A day's work in the legislature is often unpredictable and can be very interesting as it coincides with what the average reader might find in the news.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 3-4 days, March 18-21 OR March 25-28
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: For any extern that is potentially interested in public policy (not necessarily politics), this might provide some insight into different ways to engage that interest professionally. Our staff at the Capitol include research and legal analysts, caucus staff that prepare legislative briefings, historical staff that preserve documents and artifacts on display, and state departmental staff that specialize in transportation, natural resources and conservation, and many other areas of public policy. Externs interested in a particular area of policy would likely have an opportunity to attend meetings related to that interest, even if I don't necessarily serve on those committees. Similarly, I would be glad to set up meetings for the extern if they have identified particular interests ahead of their visit. There are also many opportunities to engage a student who is interested in politics, or introductions I could facilitate if they're interested in Iowa politics specifically.
Additional Information: If possible, student should bring a car.
Housing/International
Thomas Kerr '81 (English); & M.Arch. - University of Oregon School of Architecture
Company/Location: Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, Bangkok, Thailand
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: English Language Publications and Documentation Coordinator - I mostly work on documenting the work of urban poor communities around Asia to upgrade their housing, living conditions and land tenure. This work is being done in various ways - partly with support from development programs which ACHR implements itself, and partly with support from the many partner organizations that are part of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights - a big regional coalition working on issues of housing, poverty and access to land for the urban poor in Asia.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: Full 2 weeks
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: Who can say what a person will learn! If a student is interested in this field (urban poverty, housing, Asian urban development, community organizing etc.), they are welcome to come, and it will be 100% learning, no matter what!
Immigration
Ellen Gallagher '03 - externship suspended
Marine Conservation
Amanda Keledjian '08 (Biology/Anthropology); Master of Advanced Study, Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (also listed in Science & Technology)
Company/Location: Oceana, Washington, D.C.
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Marine Scientist - I work at one of the largest international organizations dedicated to marine conservation, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization works on campaigns to promote responsible fishing, end seafood fraud, stop offshore drilling, promote alternative energy, and conserve marine wildlife. As a marine scientist working in the policy arena, my portfolio includes protected species (marine mammals, turtles, sharks) and the bycatch of this wildlife during fishing activities.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible at this time
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: By spending time at Oceana, an extern would learn about conservation policy and how science informs decision-making at the national level. We work on interdisciplinary teams that include attorneys, lobbyists, marketing and communications staff, and scientists, and students would have the opportunity to learn and interact with all of these departments. Specific topics could include international fisheries management, the impacts of human activities on marine wildlife, and the economics of conservation. In addition to observing, I would work to give the extern opportunities to produce tangible products from conduct short-term research, blog pieces, and meeting people at similar organizations.
Additional Information: I could put together a great week for a visiting student that would include meeting other Grinnellians and colleagues in the environmental field and walking away with tangible resume-building products.
Marketing/Community Relations
Ariane DeLong '89 (History/Russian Language); M.B.A. – Emory University (also listed in Writing & Publishing)
Company/Location: Wesley Woods, Atlanta, GA
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator - Briefly, I am responsible for all marketing materials, website, social media and PR for our non-profit organization that provides housing, skilled nursing and healthcare for older adults of all income levels across North Georgia.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 3-5 days, March 18-22
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The student will become familiar with the fundraising department of a large established non-profit and about the geriatric care industry. We have a geriatric hospital, outpatient care clinic, independent living, and skilled nursing facilities on the Emory campus.
Non-Profit Management
Margaret Banning '82 (English); M.P.A. – Indiana University at South Bend
Company/Location: Irvington Development Organization, Indianapolis, IN
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Executive Director - I am the sole employee of a neighborhood based development not-for-profit. Our mission is to revitalize the commercial district of an historic neighborhood in Indianapolis. The work involves everything from coordinating business owners in promotions and marketing to acquiring and developing commercial properties. I am also responsible for grant writing and administration, fundraising, coordinating our communications and membership efforts, attracting new businesses, volunteer recruitment, and beautification programs.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: A one person shop does a little bit of everything. We are a very grass roots organization but one that exemplifies true community based development.
Policy Analysis
Lura Barber '03 (English/GWSS); M.P.P. focusing on Women and Public Policy – University of Minnesota
Company/Location: National Council on Aging, Washington D.C.
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Senior Policy Analyst - I am responsible for leading the National Council on Aging's work to expand SNAP (i.e., Food Stamps) access to vulnerable and low-income older adults. In this role, I manage multiple statewide projects to increase participation in SNAP and other benefits among older adults through streamlining applications, engaging grassroots aging services providers, and identifying new resources for expanding outreach and enrollment capacity. I work with nonprofit organizations and government agencies at all levels, and with foundations and other private entities.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, March 25-29
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: By spending time at the National Council on Aging, the extern will see how nonprofit organizations work with government and the private sector to influence public policy in order to help low-income populations. The student will accompany me to meetings with policymakers and advocates in the areas of hunger, poverty, health, and social policy, and will be included, where feasible, in discussions of policy strategy. I will also provide the extern with a list of interesting briefings in D.C. that week, and if I know in advance their area of interest, I can try to set up informational interviews for him/her with my colleagues at NCOA and other organizations.
Additional Information: No smokers please.
Wildlife Biology
Joy Tamayose '88 (Biology); M.S., Wildlife Science – Oregon State University (also listed in Science & Technology)
Company/Location: Haleakala National Park, Haiku, HI
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Wildlife Biologist - My work focuses on the management of endangered bird populations. I am a field biologist on a small project that protects and monitors the Hawaiian petrel and Hawaiian goose populations within the park.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The extern will have the opportunity to experience conservation biology in practice and to learn about the challenges of long-term management of natural resources. The extern will also gain some familiarity with the park service and government agencies in general.
